Mophead structure and means for securing mophead to handle



B. A. OLSEN 2,700,170

MOPHEAD STRUCTURE AND. MEANS FOR SECQRING MOPHEAD TO HANDLE Jam 25, 1955 Filed April 7, 1951 INVENTOR.

@u/em/v H.0L5EN fiTTO/E IVEMS MOPHEAD STRUCTURE AND MEANS FOR SECURING MOPHEAD TO HANDLE Burton A. Bison, Oakland, Calif., assignor to National Automotive Fibres, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application April 7, 1951, Serial No. 219,815

4 Claims. (Cl. 15-229) This invention relates to a roofers mop, such as are used in the construction, repair and maintenance of roofs where such materials as tar, asphalt, etc., are melted and are applied to the roof While hot, and this application is a continuation in part of copending applications Serial Nos. 748,491 and 43,483, respectively, filed by me on May 16, 1947, and August 10, 1948, and which applications are now abandoned.

Heretofore, the heads of roofers mops have usually been made up of cotton yarn, and have had a relatively short life for the reason that the tar or the like is applied to the mop head at a temperature of between about 400 F. and 500 F. Cotton yarn deteriorates rapidly at this temperature, hence the cost of replacing mop heads has been high and the elficiency of the workmen necessarily suffers due to noticeable progressive deterioration of the mop head from the time of its first use.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a roofers mop that will outlast many conventional mops.

An additional object of the invention is the provision States Patent of a roofers mop having a fireproof head of lengths of fibrous material so arranged that said head will have a greater capacity for lifting hot tar from a container for deposit on a roof than is the case with the customary mop head structure, and which mop head has a higher resistance "to wear from dragging the mop head over a roof in a tar spreading operation.

In explanation of the above, it is highly desirable in a roofing job in which hot tar is spread, that the mop head will lift as much tar as is possible from the container for deposit on the roof. The mop head is dipped into the hot tar and when it is lifted out of the container; it carries the hot tar with it.

After the mop head has been lifted from the container carrying a load of hot tar, the mop head is dropped onto the roof and then it is dragged across the roof leaving a layer of the tar behind.

With the present mop head several gallons of the hot tar can be lifted from the container with each immersion of the mop head, which is a larger quantity than can be withdrawn when conventional mop head structure is used.

The dragging of the mop head over the roof, which may have gravel or flinty material thereon, is very hard on the material of the mop head. Cotton soon wears away. The present mop head has a far greater resistance to such wear than cotton mop heads or similar heads, and the provision of a mop head having such greater resistance is an object of the invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mop having a replaceable head and means for positively holding the mop head onto the mop stick during use of the mop.

Heretofore attempts to make roofers mops having replaceable heads have employed screws intended to screw into the handle, but these have afiorded little security inasmuch as there has been no security against rotation of the head when in use, and which rotation in some instances results in a loosening of the mop head on the handle, and in other instances merely results in rotation of the head relative to the screw. Either occurrence is extremely objectionable and reduces the efficiency of the mop as well as making it a dangerous implement to handle for applying hot tar.

An object of the present invention is the provision of structure that overcomes both of the above objections, and yet does not preclude the easy removal of the mop head for replacement thereof when such replacement is needed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of positive means in a mop for retaining the elements of the mop head including the main body of fibrous material in correct assembled relationship, particularly where the said body is partially or entirely made up of glass fiber, that is very diflicult to hold by mere frictional resistance between it and any binding elements that may be used, such as wire or the like.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in the drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side elevational view of a mop with the elements or portions thereof that are within the mop head shown in dotted line. The outline of the mass of fibrous material making up the mop head is shown without attempting to indicate the fibers in order to prevent obscuring the dotted lines indicating internal structure or elements.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the means for securing the mop head to the handle, said section being taken along line 2--2 to Fig. 1. The body of fibrous material making up the head is indicated in outline only.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4- is a sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 2, the dash or broken annular line indicating the position of the disc at the opposite side of the section line.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are semi-diagrammatic views showing the successive steps of positioning the yarn to make up the mop head.

Fig. 9 is a reduced size perspective view of the Wire holder for the yarn of the mop head.

Wherever the word yarn is used in the description or claims, it refers to fibrous cords or strands that make up the fibrous portion of the head, which is the main body of said head.

The word head or mop headrefers to the part of the entire mop that carries the yarn, and does not refer to the handle or to parts that are integral with 01 normally retained on the handle when the head is removed.

The mop head of this invention comprises a wire frame generally designated 1 (Fig. 9) that is made up of a pair of substantially identical U-shaped wires of relatively heavy gauge disposed in vertical planes intersecting each other at right angles to each other. The legs of one Wire are designated 2, while the legs of the other wire are designated 4. Legs 2 are connected at their lower ends (when the mop is vertical with the head down) by an end piece 6 and a similar end piece 7 connects the lower ends of the legs 4, said end pieces forming the closed ends of the U of each wire.

End piece 6 extends over end piece 7 and the two end pieces may be brazed or welded together where they cross.

The upper end portions 8 of the legs 2, 4 preferably extend slantingly outwardly relative to the vertical axis of the Wire frame before the head is assembled.

In the assembling the mop head, two separate, elongated, substantially equal length bodies 9 of tire proof material, such as fiberglass or glass yarn or asbestos (Fig. 6) are centrally suspended over the end piece 6 at opposite sides of the planes in which the legs 2 are disposed. The said end piece 6 is above end piece 7. In Fig. 1 said bodies 9 are indicated when suspended from end piece 6.

After the bodies 9 are so suspended from the end piece 6 a ring 10 (Figs. 3, 7) of the same kind of material is formed and is positioned horizontally on top of the yarn 9 within the area between legs 2, 4 with its central vertical axis coaxial with the vertical exis of the holder that exltlends through the point where ends 6, 7 cross each ot er.

Inasmuch as the outside diameter of the yarn ring 10 is greater than the distance between opposed legs 2 and opposed legs 4, the ring will be distorted so that there will be a substantial outward bulging of the yarn of the flinlgi between the adjacent pairs of legs 2, 4 around the After the ring is pressed downwardly against the bodies 9, equal weight elongated bodies 11 (Fig. 8) of fibrous glass yarn are centrally suspended over the ring Jill and over bodies 9. These bodies 11 are arranged the same as bodies 9 and fully enclose and cover the bodies 9 and ring 10 when the mop head is fully assembled.

The lengths of the fibrous glass yarn of the bodies '5- are heavy gauge wire 12 is positioned over the end 6 and may extend laterally outwardly of the holder 1 between legs 2, 4 (Fig. 3).

After the foregoing steps, the upper end portions 8 of the legs 2, 4 are inserted through four equally spaced openings formed in the outer marginal portion of a circular disc 15 (Fig. 5). The outward inclination of the said end portions 8 facilitates this insertion of said portions through openings 15 since said end portions will be about parallel when their free outer ends are moved toward the central vertical axis of the holder a sufficient distance to enable said free outer ends to enter openings 15.

The spacing of the legs 2, 4 below the inclined upper end portions 8 corresponds to the spacing between the openings 15, hence after the inclined upper end portions 8 have entered the openings 15 the legs will spring apart to their normal positions with said inclined portions 8 projecting upwardly from the disc 16.

After said upper end portions 8 have been thrust through openings 15, the disc 16 is forced downwardly against the yarn therebelow with considerable force so that the yarn is tightly compacted or held between the disc 16 and the closed end 6 of the legs 2. The upwardly projecting ends of legs 2, 4 above disc 16 are then bent outwardly over the outer edge of disc 16 and under the latter and are then clipped off below the disc.

It should be noted that disc 16 is relatively small in diameter as compared to the cross-sectional extent of the body of yarn to which it is aflixed so that the disc 16 is wholly spaced within the upwardly projected confines of said body. By this arrangement, no interference is possible between disc 16 and the hot tar container or the surface on which the tar is spread.

After the yarn is tightly clamped between disc 16 and end piece 6 a loop 25 of relatively heavy gauge wire is slipped downwardly over the yarn to a point about even with the lower end of holder 1 and below the ring or filler 10 (Fig. 1). The ends of said loop 25 are slidably extended through the central opening of a ring or washer 26, and the loop is tightened about the yarn by pulling its ends through said washer until said loop is about as tightly secured around the yarn as is practicable without injury to the yarn. Then the ends 27 of the loop are bent back over the washer to secure the loop against loosening.

The ends of the wire 12 are next tightly secured to the loop 25 at opposite sides of the latter (Fig. l) which wire effectively prevents the loop from sliding toward the outer end of the mop, which it is likely to do where glass yarn is used, unless positively held.

The steps of securing the loop 25 around the yarn and of securing the wire loop retainer 12 to the loop, practi callv completes the securement of the yarn to disc 16 and to the holder 1. The yarn may be combed out and the lower terminating ends clipped slightly to even said end if there is any unevenness.

The enlargement between disc 16 and the loop 25 is caused mainly by the ring 10 that was inserted in the holder 1. This enlargement positively prevents loop 2 from slipping ofl? the yarn in the direction of disc 16, and the loop retainer wire 12 positively prevents the loop from slipping off the yarn in the opposite direction. It is pertinent to note that glass fiber is quite sli ery and do s not compress like cotton yarn. hence it is difficult to hold. The enlargement caused by the filler It) also materiall contributes to the efiiciency of the mop head in pulling a large amount of molten tar from a container. if the ring 10 or filler were not used, the mop would not be capable of removing as much tar with each immersion and withdrawal.

The disc 16 is formed with a central rectangular opening that is adapted to pass, and to substantially fit the IGCtBl'lfltF lar shank 28 of a carriage bolt 29 that has a relatively 4 fiat, but rounded, circular head 30. This fit of the shank 28 in the polygonal sided central opening in disc 16 effectively prevents any relative rotation between the disc 16 and the bolt 29.

The threaded end of bolt 29 extends upwardly from the disc 16 and the head 30 is below the disc so as to engage the yarn of bodies 11 when the disc 16 is forced downwardly along legs 2, 4. Thus the yarn holds the bolt in place.

The handle 31 (Fig. 1) of the mop is preferably of wood and its lower end is secured and enclosed within a relatively long metal sleeve or tube 32 by a nail, 33 or any other suitable means (Fig. 1).

The lower end of sleeve 32 is closed by a relatively long metal plug 34 or end wall (Fig. 2) that is preferably integrally connected with tube 33 by brazing or welding. This plug or end wall 34 is centrally apertured coaxial with the axis of sleeve and the said aperture is threaded to engage the threads of bolt 29.

The other end of the wall 34 may be radially grooved to provide radially extending ridges 36 around the aperture if desired (Fig. 4). These ridges may be hardened to slightly cut into the softer metal of disc 16 when the handle is rotated to tighten the wall 34 against said disc.

Irrespective of whether the wall 34 is scored or whether a lock nut is used, separate means is provided for positively locking the handle and mop head together against accidental relative rotation between them. This means comprises a small tubular open ended sleeve 37 (Figs. 1, 2) that is parallel with the axis of sleeve 32 and that is alongside the sleeve 32 at the lower end of the latter.

Disc 16 is also formed with openings 38 (Fig. 5) that are respectively centrally between each adjacent pair of openings 15. Thus disc 16 has eight equally spaced openings. The openings 15, 33 are preferably of the same size and are equally spaced from the center of the disc, and they are on a circular line that extends centrally across the lower open end of sleeve 37 so that the bore of said sleeve will scan said openings as the disc and handle are rotated relatively.

By making the openings 15, 38 of the same size and equally spaced from the center of disc 16 the operator may insert the ends of the legs 2, 4 in any of the alternate four openings when assembling the mop head.

When the mop head is tightened on the handle, and the bore of sleeve 37 is aligned with one of the openings 38 (at the end of the tightening operation) a nail 39 is inserted through the sleeve 37 and is partially driven into the tight enlarged portion of the mop head above loop 25. (Fig. 2).

Once the mop head is clipped and tar covers the nail. there will be no possible chance of the nail coming out, although for all practical purposes it will not be accidentally loosened before that occurs. However, the nail is easily and quickly withdrawn when desired, thus releasing the head to permit unscrewing the bolt. This positive lock enables the mop to be used with safety and without the annoyance of having the head become loosened and fall off, as it tends to do when no such lock is used.

I claim:

1. A mop head for a handle of the type having an internally threaded opening formed in one end comprising: a wire frame comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped wires disposed in vertical planes at right angles to each other with their closed ends lowermost and connected where they cross, a first elongated body of lengths of fibrous material having a central portion extending across and above the lower closed end of one of said wires with the end portions of said body at opposite sides of said central portion depending from opposite sides of said closed end, a filler of fibrous material disposed between said closed ends and said central portion and projecting laterally outwardly between adjacent pairs of said wires. a second elongated body of lengths of fibrous material of substantially shorter length than the length of said first body having its central portion below said filler and across and above the closed end of one of said wires and depending from said closed end enclosed by the depending end portions of said first body, an annular clamp around the depending end portions of said first body at a level below and closely adjacent to the projecting sides of said filler tightly clamping the depending end portions of said first body and said second body together at said level, a disc above said central portion of said first body connected with said wires and tightly secured by the latter against the upper surface of said central portion, a screw connected with said disc for sccurement in said threaded opening.

2. A mop head for a handle of the type having an internally threaded opening formed in one end comprising; a wire frame comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped wires disposed in vertical planes at right angles to each other with their closed ends lowermost and connected where they cross, a first elongated body of lengths of fibrous material having a central portion extending across and above the lower closed end of one of said wires with the end portions of said body at opposite sides of said central portion depending from opposite sides of said closed end, a filler of fibrous material disposed between said closed ends and said central portion and projecting laterally outwardly between adjacent pairs of said wires, a second elongated body of lengths of fibrous material of substantially shorter length than the length of said first body having its central portion below said filler and across and above the closed end of one of said Wires and depending from said closed end enclosed by the depending end portions of said first body, an annular clamp around the depending end portions of said first body at a level below and closely adjacent to the projecting sides of said filler tightly clamping the depending end portions of said first body and said second body together at said level, a disc above said central portion of said first body connected with said wires and tightly secured by the latter against the upper surface of said central portion, a screw connected with said disc for securement in said threaded opening, said filler being a centrally open horizontally disposed body of flexible lengths of said fibrous material generally in the form of a ring of larger diameter than the maximum distance between any pair of said wires thereby causing the filler to so project outwardly between said adjacent pairs of wires.

A mop head for a handle of the type having an internally threaded opening formed in one end comprising; a substantially U-shaped wire frame providing a pair of vertically extending legs connected at their lower ends to form the lower closed end of said frame, an elongated body of yarn having its central portion disposed between said legs and over said closed end with the end portions at opposite sides of said central portion depending from said closed end, a member over said central portion tightly thereagainst, means integral with said legs at their upper ends connected with said member for holding the latter tightly against said central portion, a screw carried by said member projecting therefrom for releasable securement in said threaded opening, a horizontal, annular clamp adjacent to the level of said closed end tightly embracing said body of yarn, an elongated element extending over and across said closed end secured to said clamp at opposite sides of the latter for securing said clamp against downward movement relative to said closed end.

4. A mop head for a handle of the type having an internally threaded opening formed in one end comprising; a substantially U-shaped wire frame providing a pair of vertically extending legs connected at their lower ends to form the lower closed end of said frame, an elongated body of yarn having its central portion disposed between said legs and over said closed end with the end portions at opposite sides of said central portion depending from said closed end, a member over said central portion tightly thereagainst, means integral with said legs at their upper ends connected with said member for holding the latter tightly against said central portion, a screw carried by said member projecting therefrom for releasable securement in said threaded opening, a horizontal, annular clamp adjacent to the level of said closed end tightly embracing said body of yarn, an elongated element extending over and across said closed end secured to said clamp at opposite sides of the latter for securing said clamp against downward movement relative to said closed end, a filler between said legs at a level above that of said annular clamp and enclosed by said body forming an enlargement of greater horizontal diameter than the diameter of said clamp for holding said annular clamp against upward movement past the said enlargement, said element being a horizontally extending wire and said filler being wholly disposed above said closed end and projecting laterally outwardly between said legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 957,025 Zachry May 3, 1910 1,092,770 Humphries Apr. 7, 1914 1,099,858 Pendergast June 9, 1914 1,286,455 Vinning Dec. 3, 1918 1,431,586 Kirkpatrick Oct. 10, 1922 1,464,896 Zachry Aug. 14, 1923 1,530,045 Guy Mar. 17, 1925 1,534,401 Lappert Apr. 21, 1925 1,633,830 Sturgis June 28, 1927 2,250,071 Speik July 22, 1941 OTHER REFERENCES Publication, United Roofer for June 1947, page 30, Figures 1 and 2 in article entitled This New Glass Mop Really Soaks Up Hotstuff. (Copy in Div. 27.) 

